30 Weeks and New Job

Officially to the 30 week mark! Baby Hartsell is 28 weeks old.

• Baby is about 3 pounds and total length is 17 inches.
• Baby is very active!

Last Friday we had the ultrasound to take a look at Baby's kidneys. At that time, they estimated baby was 2 pounds, 10 ounces. Right on track! The right kidney is still enlarged, though has not increased in size. The ultrasound tech and doctor said this is good and they will just continue to watch it. I may or may not need another ultrasound, my primary OB doctor will determine if I need a follow-up or just wait until the baby is born. I see him again on 8/4/08.

I started my new job this week. Monday was hospital orientation, which is a long and boring day consisting of general hospital information and policies. Today I was with the case management team where I'll be working. I followed one very nice girl for most of the day and then sat with the ER case manager for the afternoon. The ER is where I will be primarily. Today the ER was hoppin' - a very busy, bustling place with lots of patients, staff, and doctors. I'm not used to this, but will learn to adapt. Most of the staff - both in case management and in the ER - seemed nice and helpful. I'll be working full time hours for the next couple of weeks to orient and then will be on my own. Once orientation is over, they plan to have me work a couple of days during the week and I won't have to start working weekends until after maternity leave.

Brent is in Grand Rapids this week. He left Sunday afternoon and will be gone until Friday evening. He is attending orientation for the new school (Reach Academy) and for the charter organization (National Heritage Academies). I miss him terribly already. I hate being alone and I don't sleep well when he's gone. Thank goodness for the company of Jo-Jo and Cola! So far he's having a good time and learning a lot about his position. I can't wait till he's home.

Saturday my friend Erin Cain is getting married! The wedding will be in South Bend and Brent and I will drive home for the day. Her soon-to-be husband's name is Aaron ... Erin & Aaron! I am looking so forward to seeing Erin - it seems like forever since I've seen her. Most of you know Erin, she's my dear friend from middle and high school. I remember how wonderful my wedding day was and it makes me so excited for her!

Color update for Baby's nursery - we decided on the color "Full Moon". Still a yellow color, but much nicer than the first and I think it will be lovely!

Hope you all are well. Love you guys ~

Laura

29 Weeks and All's Well

We've made it to 29 weeks already - Baby is 27 weeks old. Brent and I went to our first doctor's appointment today at our new OB office. The doctor was nice and is optimistic about the kidneys. We have an ultrasound scheduled for this Friday. Then we'll see the doctor again in 2 weeks for another check up. Baby's heart rate was 142 today. I think this OB practice will work out just fine for us and we plan to deliver at St. John's Hospital just down the street. Brent and I will both go to the ultrasound on Friday and we're looking forward to seeing Baby again!

• Baby is 2 3/4 pounds and is 16 3/4 inches in total length.
• No big milestones to report - Baby just continues to grow!

Funny how life changes with life's changes - how exciting it becomes to buy a new garbage can, weed wacker, and closet door handles. Who knew this stuff would ever excite me?!

Brent pulled up the carpet in the baby's to-be room today. There was an awful purple carpet in the two back bedrooms. The floor underneath is wood like the rest of the house and is in great condition. Instead of re-carpeting, we will get the floors resurfaced. We called the company that did the rest of the house (the old owners left the paperwork) and got a quote, which was surprisingly reasonable. We also got a sample can of the paint for Baby's room - a color called "Friendly Yellow". Well, thank goodness for the sample because it isn't so "friendly" after all. Way too yellow, not a bit like the color swatch. Why is that? That's a phenomenon I'll never understand - why paint looks so different on the walls than on the color swatches. So back to the paint store we go.

Brent and I took a long walk this evening with Jo-Jo. The weather was glorious, until it started to rain! We waited it out under a canopy on a store front. Rain didn't last long and the blue sky peaked out as we made our way home. I was waddling something fierce by the end - Baby is getting harder to lug around! And I still have so far to go .... and so far to grow.

Brent has more energy than I can shake a stick at. He's in here right now measuring a wall to hang a picture. I've long since thrown in the towel and he's working away!

Baby is kicking - saying "Hello" to you guys!

Love ~ The 3 Hartsells

We Made It!

Hi everyone! I'm finally blogging to share new pics and to let you know that we made it to Grosse Pointe! What an adventure getting here - but we're here! We're happy and are settling in to our first home.



Thanks for all the well wishes during our move. I know they helped! My dad and Brent's parents were so helpful in getting us all packed up and on our way. We wouldn't have been able to do it without them. It was a bittersweet good-bye to Florida and then we set off down the interstate with a U-Haul truck and a trailer full of everything we owned. Brent and Jo-Jo drove the truck. Greg and Kathy drove Brent's car. My dad drove my car with me and Cola in the backseat. 1200 miles of driving with a few incidents along the way. MapQuest directions lead us down crazy back roads in Georgia, leaving us confused and lost for a bit. Then the U-Haul started with engine trouble - about the same time as the confused and lost period. Brent and his parents were on the side of the highway stalled for about an hour. My dad and I were ahead of them and into Tennesse at this point, due to the confused and lost episode. So, I fretted and cried over cell phone calls. By the grace of God, the U-Haul started and Brent was able to make it to Knoxville, TN where we had hotel reservations. The next morning, the U-Haul was having worse trouble and again, by the grace of God, there was a huge U-Haul center off the highway close to our hotel. My dad and I drove on with the cat and Brent and his parents pulled into the U-Haul center. Long story short and six hours later, the U-Haul transmission was shot and Brent and his parents had to unload the truck and re-load into a new one. What a fiasco. Happy ending when we all arrived safely to Grosse Pointe.

Our closing was Friday morning. We signed all the papers and got our new house keys! Move in began! My mom and Scott met us at the house Friday afternoon. Everyone was so helpful and we had the U-Hauls unloaded by mid afternoon. Brent and I cannot say "thank you" enough to his parents, my parents, and Scott. The move just simply wouldn't have happened without their help - THANK YOU!!!

Jo-Jo and Cola have settled in just fine. Cola likes all the boxes to climb on and investigate. Jo-Jo would prefer less boxes in her way, but we're getting there. The house is really in good shape, but there is a lot of cleaning and sprucing up to be done. The kitchen is my biggest task, but I'm almost done and my goal today is to finish!

Good news - my Michigan license was approved! It didn't take the 6-8 weeks, but the lady who does recertifications at the Board of Nursing helped me out a bit (thank you!). I had a job interview on Monday and a job offer on Wednesday. I accepted! I will be a case manager in the ER at a local hospital. The hospital isn't in Grosse Pointe, but is only 8 miles away in a city called Warren. The hospital is about the same size as my last one - about 200 beds. I will be responsible for ER and hospital admissions and transfers. It is called a "contingent" position, which means I'll fill in shifts as needed. I'm promised at least one day a week and every other weekend, which will be a great schedule for us once the baby comes. On Monday I'll have physical and drug test and the following Monday I'm scheduled for hospital orientation. After that, I'll begin learning my new job and they'll have me working full time hours for a while. This will be great for the money while I'm still able to work. Pretty exciting!

Brent is doing great - finding lots to do around the house and outside in the lawn. It's pretty overwhelming for both of us at times, but we're happy and taking it all in.

Baby is growing and is really a "mover and a shaker" lately! I've been feeling fine, other than a little tired at times (understandable, I suppose). I'm 28 weeks along now, baby is 26 weeks old. Third trimester!!! I missed blogging during the 27th week, so I'll include the milestones below with this week.

• Baby is 2 1/2 pounds!
• The book now differentiates length - all along so far the length has been from crown-to-rump. Now they talk about crown-to-rump and total length. Crown-to-rump length is 10 inches. Total length is 15 3/4 inches!
• Baby's eyelides open during the 27th week - they were fused before this.
• One website said the baby can smell now!

Yesterday Brent and I (and Jo-Jo) drove to South Bend for my mom's birthday. Her present was a Crosby, Stills, Nash concert last night. My parents, Scott, and Brent and me all went. What a great show!! We had a great time and the music was fantastic. I particullary liked "Our House, is a very very very fine house" (for obvious reasons). Brent and I left for home early this morning. Brent had to be back this afternoon for a function with his new school. How nice to be able to make the quick trip home - I love living close! Rob, Jas, Jessie, Alexia, and Ryan came over to my Mom's to visit - it was so nice seeing everyone. Alexia is SO SO cute and I love her!

Brent has had two functions so far with his new school - mostly student recruitment activities. He met some of his co-workers and says everyone is really nice. Lots of young teachers. He's really excited and thinks this will be a great school!

I'll post more soon! Back to cleaning the kitchen!

Love, Laura

Birthday, Boxes, and Bellybutton

Hey all - hope everyone is doing well!

26 Weeks along, Baby is 24 weeks old. It's nearing the end of the 26th week already - I'm behind a bit on posting! I'm almost to the 3rd trimester!

• Baby now weighs 2 pounds and is 9 1/4 inches long
• For the remainder of the pregnancy, the books say I should grow about 1/2 inch a week!

Brent celebrated his 28th birthday this week - 7/1/08. He's getting to be an old man - only two years away from 30! I took off half a day at work and we spent the afternoon together. Brent's mom came over from Tampa and joined us for dinner and (Brent's fav) German chocolate cake. Happy Birthday to Brent, my dearest husband. I love you!

Boxes have taken over our house! Packing is well underway. We have empty walls and empty closets. Still lots to pack - it seems like a never ending project! My dad will be here on Saturday and will help us get organized and pack up the rest. Brent's dad will be flying in on Monday and his mom will join us on Tuesday. We're so grateful that they'll be here with us. Moving day is fast approaching - we'll have the moving van in our driveway on Tuesday morning. I can't believe it. I get a little anxious about it all at moments - but Brent, my mom, Joan, and everyone else in my life reassures me that "things will all work out"! And I know they will.

Well, my bellybutton is starting to stick out. I'm getting an "outie"! How strange. Brent and I laugh about it a lot - it's funny! One of my co-workers noticed today and we also had a good laugh. I am even busting out of some of my matternity clothes - bring on the bigger sizes!

I probably won't be able to post until after the big move. Wish us lots of luck and say prayers for a well packed moving van, for safe travels, and that a dog, a cat, and a prego make it to Grosse Pointe in one piece.

I'll be saying good-bye to Florida next week. We have been here for three years now, which is hard to believe. Although it hasn't been my favorite place on earth at times, we've really had a good time here and made some great memories. Brent and I learned how to make things work and to lean on each other when we had no one else - the best thing we probably could have done for our young marriage. We met our two beautiful nieces on their very first birthdays and have so enjoyed watching them grow up. We will miss them terribly. I went to Disney World on my 27th birthday. We kayaked the intercoastal waterway with manatees, dolphins, and (yes) gators. I learned to love this little rental house we're in, our home for the past two years. We made it through two hurricanes - small ones, but still hurricanes. We body surfed and boogie boarded in the ocean. We watched a tiny baby sea turtle make its way into the sea. And Baby Hartsell came into our lives - and has stolen our hearts already.